In the wake of the Campus Trendz tragedy Barbadians grabbed a little consolation in response to the news the Royal Barbados Police Force was able to apprehend two males for the crime. To be expected Commissioner Darwin Dottin held a press conference in the full glare of local/global media to communicate the news. There was much back slapping and congratulations extended to all those who participated in the capture. BU joins with all Barbadians in extending congratulations to the Commissioner and his team as well.
Despite the success of the police force in quickly apprehending the Campus Trendz suspects, BU has some concerns. Commissioner Dottin congratulated Barbadians at their show of civic mindedness measured by the number of leads which were communicated to the police hotlines. We are of the view the reason why Barbadians communicated in the way they did had more to do with the heinous nature of the crime which sparked a public outrage. Believe it or not there is an anti-police sentiment which is growing in Barbados, especially among the younger demographic, our ‘leaders’ of tomorrow. It should be of grave concern to the police force and by extension all Barbadians the gravemen of the situation.
At the press conference Commissioner Darwin Dottin sought to reassure Barbadians that there was no reason to panic. Supported by charts he explained that Barbados relative to our regional neighbours has a murder rate ratio of 6:100,000 when compared to a regional average of 30:100,000. By any comparison this is a good statistic for Commissioner Dottin to beat his chest. However what the Campus Trendz investigation revealed, if there is enough of a public outcry the Barbados police force has the capacity to solve murders and other serious crimes committed in Barbados. In the case of murders the stats according to Commissioner Dottin is about 15 murders per year. In 2007 Commissioner Darwin Dottin announced the ‘setting-up’ of a Cold Case Squad. Unless we are mistaken the Commissioner has not been pressured to report by the traditional media which he is enamoured to give details on its performance. Have we now moved to a position where a case has to be heinous to the point of sparking public outrage or the victim a prominent person to galvanize the police* and the public* into action?
On the 17 September 2010 the Nation Newspaper reported that Suleman Esuf, 22, of Redman’s Village, St. Thomas [was charged] in connection with the discovery of more than $11 million in drugs in a container at the Bridgetown Port [and] was ordered kept in jail after he appeared in the District “A” Traffic Court. Regrettably we have not had the same public outrage by Barbadians in response to this news. Commonsense supports the argument that a 22 year old from Redman Village would not have the wherewithal (resources) to perform a transaction of the magnitude reported. No doubt Suleman Esuf is a foot soldier and will probably be paid handsomely to take the fall. Do Barbadians understand the damage 11 million dollars worth in illegal drugs can do to the young in our society? Why not the same public outcry?
BU is throwing out a challenge to the Barbados Police Force today. The same diligence you exercised, albeit with the public’s help, in apprehending the two animals who perpetrated that most cowardly and dastardly act on Tudor Street, we ask you to demonstrate the same zeal to apprehend the real criminals behind the importation of 11 million dollars worth in illegal drugs into Barbados. A good place to look maybe on the golf courses of Westmorland and Sandy Lane and the Heights and Terraces.
The blogmaster invites you to join the discussion.